Getting Soaked

Rain showers struck down town Sunday evening pelting the capital city with hail and strong wind gusts.  As restaurant patrons ran for the cover of trees and inside shops, four Peace Corps volunteers in complete disregard for appropriate behavior in poor weather stayed at their table. 

Before: just a few drops, nothing we couldn't handle...	After: we had just taken a Namibian bath.  Refreshing!
As I rang my clothes out the question "what was the point of doing that" entered my mind the last time.	Shoni managed to scarf down her cake before the heavy rain started.

After minutes they were soaked through, shivering as ice bounced off their heads and shoulders.

"We wanted to see if we could out last the storm" said Shoni, Health Volunteer from Keetmanshop.

When explaining why they didn't shield themselves from the onslaught of rain and hail, Mike, Science teacher from Tess said "I didn't want to be the first one to stand up and run for cover."

After twenty torrential minutes the rain stopped, leaving the four crazy volunteers soaked, cold and looking rather odd. 

The four then asked for a waitress to take their picture, after which they paid their bill with a wet twenty and walked off, ringing their clothes out as they walked.

Talk Radio

I was interviewed by an eleven year old last week on national radio.  Actually, it was a recorded interview that will be edited and played today (Sunday) on three Namibian radio stations.

Esmelda interviewed me in this small recording booth.  She did an excellent job and has quite a personality!	Esmelda and I at the booth.  She was a little firecracker- I'm sure some of the interview will be cut out (she spoke at length about being grounded)

The program is called ChildLine, part of the LifeLine Namibia program.  In the radio broadcasting program at ChildLine, youth between the ages of 9 and 14 audition to host radio programs that are broadcast weekly.  Shows range from interviews about jobs and careers (like mine) to discussions about HIV/AIDS and youth issues.

I'm really excited about finding this program and got to speak with the manager for a while ways to get involved.  One thing we talked about was giving small recording devices to make radio diaries on topics important to youth in the area.

I'll try to get a copy of the interview to post.

Talk Radio

I was interviewed by an eleven year old last week on national radio.  Actually, it was a recorded interview that will be edited and played today (Sunday) on three Namibian radio stations.

Esmelda interviewed me in this small recording booth.  She did an excellent job and has quite a personality!	Esmelda and I at the booth.  She was a little firecracker- I'm sure some of the interview will be cut out (she spoke at length about being grounded)

The program is called ChildLine, part of the LifeLine Namibia program.  In the radio broadcasting program at ChildLine, youth between the ages of 9 and 14 audition to host radio programs that are broadcast weekly.  Shows range from interviews about jobs and careers (like mine) to discussions about HIV/AIDS and youth issues.

I'm really excited about finding this program and got to speak with the manager for a while ways to get involved.  One thing we talked about was giving small recording devices to make radio diaries on topics important to youth in the area.

I'll try to get a copy of the interview to post.

Libraries and Swimming Pools

Wow- I feel like I just lived a month in seven day's time.  Friday afternoon I held a computer repair and computer lab workshop for eight 11th graders who are in the Tech Squad.  We went over some computer lab basics then took apart the computers at the lab.  I even had them take their processors out, which they thought was pretty cool.

These guys were pretty nervous taking the processors out of their computers, but after everything was put back together, all the computers booted just fine.	Troxy laughs as I tell her not to trop the heat sink because all the heat will escape and make Namibia hot.
Eight 11th graders all tearing apart new computers- isn't it a great sight?	MT carefully tries to disconnect the power supply from the motherboard.

These eight learners will be going to Mariental next week to repair two computer labs and run workshops on digital photography and research for the learners at a high school.  They will also be assisting in running a workshop for the teachers, which should be a great deal of fun.

The Tech Squad is a program that budded up on it's own out of the learner's passions and enthusiasm for learning as much about computers as possible.  So far the Tech Squad has setup four computer labs, repaired several more and gone on a few field trips in town.  Next year I hope to get the squad involved in setting up more computer labs in schools by actually tendering for installation jobs from the ministry.  I'll write more on that project later.

After that I took some 9th graders down to the library to help setup for Library Open Day, an event that ended up flowing as smoothly and unorganized as any Namibian event.  The scavenger hunt they setup Friday night was never even used as we ran out of time.  I did have a good time playing with the 1st through 3rd graders and reading stories while they drew pictures.

The idea here was to hide clues in the library books that contained the title and author of another book.  Participants would learn to use the card catalog to find the books and the first person to collect all six clues would be the winner.  I wonder if it would have worked...
Gerard, senior librarian for the Khomas Region, opens the Library Open day event by leading everyone in a horribly off-tune rendition of the Namibian National Anthem.	There were several book readings during the event, this one from a non-fiction book about a Namibian who struggled through the independence.
Some of the little ones who enjoyed story hour as myself and a few of the librarians read books to them while they drew pictures of the stories.	One of the librarians reading a story.  Unlike in the rural areas, even the tiny first graders are fluent in English.

Last weekend up until today (Thursday) I was at Grieters Conference center just outside of Windhoek for the GTOT (Group Training of Trainers).  The GTOT is mainly for the Namibian trainers who will be the language and cultural facilitators for Group 26, arriving next month.

There were about 16 of us volunteers who were there mainly to interact with the trainers and get them used to us quirky Americans.  We all had a great time and got a lot accomplished, including eating very well and very much, swimming and otherwise relaxing.

Beth P, Megan T, Rute and Matt P enjoy the "wading pool"	Carl jumps in for a fizbee- a favorite game for PCV's at Gieters.  The pool was great and I enjoyed a dip every day after lunch
Caught!! Ha!! Jay, sleeping in a session.  Of all people...	The first night I took everyone up the hill to the "haunted house", an abandoned house Jay and I found during reconnect.  We drank wine and told stories in the dark for a couple of hours.  The stars were amazing.
Training at Grieters.  There were about 20 Namibian trainers along with 10 Peace Corps staff and16 PCV's.  We were a happy bunch.	One night the PCV's and trainers stayed up after dinner to discuss cultural issues that we felt were important to discuss with the new volunteers.

Today I have a radio interview with NBC (not really sure what it's about, although I was told it will be a ten-year-old will will be interviewing me) then I'm off to Gobabis to visit Chris P. and check out his computer lab.  I hope to see a few other computer labs in Gobabis before returning this weekend.

Well, that's all on the update front.  More next week.

Passing The Tourch

Twelfth graders use a PowerPoint presentation they created to train the new managment

Thursday was a big day.  It was the day picked to officially hand over control and management duties of the Photo Lab to the next generation.

Twelfth grade learners had spent the previous three days preparing a workshop for the eleventh graders on Photo Lab activities, management and organization.  On Thursday they conducted the workshop and presented a training program which the eleventh graders will use next year to train staff.

Terrance demonstrates the proper way to power on/off the camera and take pictures

I'm sure this moment will go down as a highlight in my service as I look back years from now.  I sat in the back of the classroom and just watched.  Most of these learners had little experience giving presentations but despite this they did an amazing job.  I was surprised to see the level of detail and care they put into everything.

I was also amused at what they had picked up on over the course of a year.  For example, they taught about "disturbing elements" in photographs, which was something I taught the photography club and they apparently liked enough to repeat it.  I think it's mostly the name, but they got the concept behind it as well.

They also had a blast going through all the complicated steps to save, edit and print pictures.  They even held a "practical" where they had the eleventh graders handle the camera and perform some of the work on the computer.

The "practical" where the twelfth graders had the eleventh graders do the things they talked about in the workshop.	Downloading pictures from the camera to the computer properly actually one of the most difficult parts

I have to say I'm damn proud of this crew and I'm sad to see them go.  But looking at this excited group of 8 eleventh graders, I know next year will be even better.

Headed Out

I'll be pretty busy this next week or so and I may not get a chance to post anything.  So, in the event that there is nothing new on this site for the rest of October, here's what I'm up to:

20- Friday: Conduct Tech Squad workshop on computer repair, setup Scavenger Hunt at the Public library for Open Day tomorrow

21- Saturday: Library Open Day event, Conduct Tech Squad practical on computer repair and workshop on curriculum development

22- Sunday-Thursday: At for Grieters to help plan Nam26 training

25- Wednesday: Celebrate my niece's birthday by eating an entire chocolate cake

26- Thursday - Saturday: At Gobabis working on computers and being silly

28- Saturday: Bother Camp Glow planning people in Windhoek

Also, I've taken down the poll.  The correct answer?  All of them.  In Namibia, "I'm coming now" just means that you intend, at some point in the future, to be at that same place again.  All other meaning is entirely circumstantial.

Oh, and I've stopped shaving... for now.  It's more of a lazy thing than any kind of style thing.

 

Ta ta!

Coffee Break

A laptop and cup of Jo.  What better way to get some work done than at a coffee shop?

Being in the largest city in Namibia was not what I was expecting when I signed up for the Peace Corps.  I figured as an IT volunteer I'd have access to the basics; power, water, Internet.  But spending my time in the capital city that looks much like a small western city was not part of my perception of Peace Corps.

 At first it was difficult to deal with.  Other volunteers started sharing their experiences of village life and small town ambiance.  Visiting PCVs would make comments about Windhoek like "Wow, it's like being back in the States!" and "it's so nice to get a vacation from real Africa!" and I'd feel a little awkward. 

But experience changes perception, and in this case I have been pleasantly surprised. I've found townships in the outskirts of town that look much like locations in rural villages.  I've found schools where teaching standards are just as poor as in other areas of Namibia.  And most importantly, I've found people.  Wonderful people, Namibians.  I've seen first hand the reality of income disparity.  I've worked directly with those who need help the most and chatted with those who don't need any help at all.

The thing I've enjoyed the most about living and working in Windhoek is the sheer volume of opportunities here. I could easily fill a day working with other NGO's, civil and religious organizations and schools.  I've setup computer labs in libraries and community centers.  I've visited schools.  I've conducted computer classes for teachers, government employees and community members.  There's so much that I could be doing here that I never get bored.

So here's to big city volunteer work.  It may not have the same challenges as living in a clay hut and bathing in a bucket, but it has it definitely has its benefits.

What A Weekend!

Wow, so much to say in such a short time.  I had a blast traveling this past weekend.  I started at Baumgartsbrunn Primary School (Irene's new site) to look at their computer lab and work on some problems with their office computer.  I then traveled to Swakopmund to work on the TRC computer lab and put my toes in the ocean.  Saturday I was off to Omaruru (again) to continue some work I started a few weeks ago at the TRC there.  And finally I found myself back in Windhoek on Sunday with five other PCV's.

Baumgartsbrunn PS & Middle Earth

Irene was moved to this primary school just outside of Windhoek due to problems at her original site near Gobabis.  The school is an old German school and is quite nice.  Recently the school got rid of grades 8-10 due to discipline problems and it now only goes to grade 7.

You can see the art work here on the outside of the classrooms.  It's pealing away, but it still looks nice.	Here is the new library, or at least one wall of it.	Lunch time.  Learners get lunch every day at the dining hall.
Here's the SchoolNet computer lab consisting of one server and six thin clients.

The school grounds are very nice, decorated with gardens and trees.  There's a network of paths between buildings and very nice murals on some of the class room walls.  While it does appear to have fallen into disrepair, overall it's pleasing to the eye; a small oasis in the middle of the desert.

Irene has taken over the library there and revived it from the dusty mess it used to be.  It's now a colorful place that welcomes both learners and learning.  She teaches art/language classes in the library daily to most of the grades.  The first graders had a lesson on farm animals during my visit, which they cautiously enjoyed. 

Irene's flat. It's the smallest I've seen- and saying it's smaller than mine is saying a lot!	Irene cookin' dinner.	Irene teaching to the first graders
Irene, waiting for the line of first graders to make their way to her class room.	This time she's teaching a 7th grade class.	As the principle organizer of the running team Irene was scrambling to collect names to enter into the Swakop marathon.

It was great for me to see a primary school and class as I haven't had the chance yet.  Watching these little guys with their eyes wide and teeth-filled smiles was a refreshing sight.  Seeing Irene's passion and skill at connecting with these little ones was a welcomed reprieve from the anguish and stress I often endure in the world of computers.

The school has a successful soccer team.  During my visit a reporter from the Republikan (an Afrikaans newspaper) came to take pictures of the team that has won both trophies and hearts as a farm-school team in the big city.  They train on dirt roads without shoes several times a week.  Irene has worked with friends from the states to purchase shoes for the team, something they'll need as they run a team marathon in Swakopmund this weekend.

The soccer team, proud and bearing metals	Here's the photographer from the Republikan- it's a big deal to get a visitor like this from town!

It took all of two minutes to fix the Internet connection at the school, after which the principle called all the staff to the staff room to publicly thank me (and God).  One thing I never tire of is that hero's welcome and computer guy enjoys when fixing long-unaddressed problems.

After a day's work, Irene and I hiked out to an abandoned house 7k from the school.  It was an amazing sight, this old ruin of a mansion in the middle of no where.  It was complete with squeaky floors and bats in the basement.

The manson in all it's Haloween-ish glory	...and what's a haunted manson without bats?  This one had several dozen
Irene scouting the best route to descend this perilous cliff.	We found this golf-resort like patch of short thick grass in the middle of a rocky canyon.	Wine, PCV-style. Yes, those are yogurt cups we drank from.

After that we walked to a nearby dam and went on a Lord of The Rings-like journey over rocky crests, through barbed brush and over muddy waters to eventually reach a wonderful little grass field.  I felt like Frodo on an epic journey.  That night we recovered from our 15+k hike by eating some amazing chicken and bacon quesadillas and topping them off with chocolate & banana crapes. 

As all good things do, my visit ended at Baumgartsbrunn only to begin another journey to Swakopmund.  I got into town early and was able to get in a combi heading straight to Swakop.  Not having to wait hours in a combi while they pack more people in is quite a rare event in Namibia, so I felt like things were off on a good foot.

To The Ocean!

Swakop Pam; she takes Spanish lessons, joined a gym and runs more girls clubs and choirs than I can keep track of.

In Swakop I worked on some severely broken computers at the TRC.   Apparently someone (a local computer repair shop) had tried to fix them, failed and returned them in even worse shape 6 months later.  I found the problem to be with the hard drives and intend to return with new ones next month.  I did, however, get one of the four operational and connected to a copier, an accomplishment that produced yet another round of praise and smiles.

Pam (PCV in Swakop) and I enjoyed an amazing dinner of Macaroni & Cheese casserole and Saturday morning I was on my way to Omaruru.

Back To Ruru

After a very comfortable hike straight to Omaruru (again, nearly never happens) I fixed the few remaining problems on an administrative computer at the TRC.  Catlin & Wendy (PCV's) enjoyed the new Daily Shows I had brought and rewarded me with chocolate & cake.  We made (home made) chicken pie for dinner which was amazing.  It's odd how good of cooks we are all becoming...

Catlin and Wendy really dug the new Daily Shows	Catlin cutting into our home made chicken pie.  It was absolutly
An empty Omaruru road at 6:50 in the morning.	The road out of Omaruru.  Everyone that leaves town has to pass here, and in my one hour wait, all of three cars passed.	Every time I visit ruru I get an amazing sunrise picture with Omaruru Mountain.

Sunday morning I hiked back to Windhoek, finding a free lift to Karabib (near Omaruru), and another free ride all the way back home (yet again, unlikely but warmly welcomed).

Home Again

In Windhoek Chris P. and Silas had stayed Saturday night and were staying again Sunday night.  CHris N. and Cynthia (in town just because) joined us while Mandy (in for medical) returned to the medical flat after dinner.

We all climbed the water tower and were worried about being caught by G4 security until while walking right past them, we realized they didn't care.  (obviously there's more to this story- send me an email to hear the rest)

The cone.  G4 security.  Long story.	Chris and Chris on the cone.  Incriminating?  That's my job.	Here's me looking at the storm that would soon make me believe I was out on the open ocean.

For dinner we made pizza which was the best I've made yet.  It went pretty quick with so many people available to work.  We also made some amazing brownies for dessert.  Honestly, with the food we make when we get together, who needs restaurants?

The gang: Chris P, Silas, Mandy, Cynthia and Chris N.  The pizza was amazing.	Our wonderful pizza.  It took all six of us to pack in all the tasty goodness.	Chris brought us some watermelon.  We all love Chris.

While making dinner Windhoek was hit by the largest most intense rain storm I've ever seen.  The rain was pouring down so hard that it created wind gusts that must have topped 40mph.  There were even rocks flying in the air! 

The storm of the century. Today at school, teachers talked about how they hadn't seen rain like that since they were in elementary school.

All this to top off an amazing weekend of work and play.  I feel so fortunate to be able to travel like I have been while still working at the school.  It's a great combination and keeps me energized.

This weekend I stay here in Windhoek to help out with a library fund raiser and run a workshop on computer lab maintenance (more on this later).